428 MR. E. W. H. HOLDSWORTH ON CEYLONESE BIRDS. [Mar. 5, 



71. Chrysophlegma chlorophanes, Vieill. 



I have only procured this species at the foot of the hills in the 

 south ; hut it has been also obtained in other places much nearer 

 Colombo. When not feeding, it is in the habit of stationing itself 

 on the highest branch of a dead tree, and there repeating its peculiar 

 note, which has little of the harsh sound so generally characteristic 

 of the Woodpeckers. 



Bill slate, with the base yellow ; irides dull red ; feet dull green. 



Ceylon, S. India. 



72. Micropternus gularis, Jerdon. 



Two specimens of this Woodpecker were procured by me a few 

 miles from Colombo. Although decidedly a scarce species, and I 

 shot these two birds in January and July, they were both killed in 

 native gardens not a quarter of a mile apart. Layard met with it 

 in the south ; and I have seen one or two skins from the central 

 district. 



Ceylon specimens have the lower parts rather darker than those 

 from India. Layard gives this bird under the name of M. phaio- 

 ceps, Blyth. 



Bill lead-grey ; irides red-brown ; feet slaty brown. 



Ceylon, S. India. 



73. Brachypternus aurantius, Linn. 



Recorded by Layard as very abundant in the Jaffna peninsula in 

 the north of the island. I occasionally saw at Aripo what may 

 have been this species, and heard its remarkable cry, but failed to 

 procure a specimen. 



73 bis. Brachypternus puncticollis, Malh. 



A specimen of this bird has been quite recently received by me 

 from the western side of the island. A further examination of the 

 Golden-backed Woodpeckers found in Ceylon therefore appears de- 

 sirable, as the species generally met there is more likely to be B. 

 puncticollis, common in Southern India, than B. aurantius, which 

 has a more northerly range. B. puncticollis may be recognized by 

 its white-dotted throat and under neck. 



Ceylon, S. India. 



74. Brachypternus ceylonus, Forster. 



Peculiar to Ceylon ; not uncommon near Colombo, but very nu- 

 merous in the south. Dr. Kelaart* says it is " found in great abun- 



* The results of my own collecting at Nuwara Eliya and in the neighbouring 

 jungles during almost every month in the year oblige me frequently to receive 

 with suspicion the notices by the late Dr. Kelaart of the occurrence of birds, and 

 of their abundance, in that district. The subjects to which Dr. Kelaart gave his 

 special attention were mammals and reptiles, and in these he did good work ; 

 but ornithology was a very subordinate study with him, and he rarely, if ever, 

 used a gun. 



